CBS’s Pelley Moving To NY

The latest name to surface in the ongoing Katie Couric saga at CBS News is that of Scott Pelley, a Washington-based 60 Minutes correspondent since 2004. According to a scenario being heard in whispers at CBS News, Pelly is being positioned to possibly replace Couric at some future date, should her numbers not improve.

Pelley, CBS’s former chief White House correspondent, is in the process of moving with his family from the Washington area to New York, where 60 Minutes is produced.

In confirming the move, a CBS spokesperson tells TVNewser: “Scott is an integral part of 60 Minutes. The move is a practical matter.”

Pelly was a candidate to replace embattled anchor Dan Rather before Couric was wooed to the CBS Evening news last spring. Rather was said to have been campaigning for Pelley, a fellow Texan.

Should this plan go down, don’t look for it to happen before the ’08 elections, CBS sources say. As for Pelley, his move north is expected in about a month.

As for the speculation Pelley is in any way being groomed to take over the “Evening News” chair, the CBS spokesperson tells TVNewser that kind of talk is “PURE BUNK.”